Donald A. Robertson

Montgomery County Police Department — Gaithersburg, MD

Felonious

End of Watch March 9, 1972

Age 35

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

The Vigil Panel 109 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 20

Incident

Detective Lieutenant Donald Robertson was shot and killed while checking a vehicle trunk for an armed robbery suspect. Patrol officers had stopped a suspect vehicle and transported the lone passenger to the police station at 801 Sligo Avenue. Lieutenant Robertson suspected the second suspect was in the trunk of the car and left the station to check it. As he removed the rear seat cushions, two shots were fired, and Lieutenant Robertson was fatally wounded. The subject then committed suicide. Lieutenant Robertson had served with the Montgomery County Police Department for exactly 13 years on the day of his murder. He was survived by his expectant wife, two daughters, and brother. His brother and brother-in-law both served with the Montgomery County Police Department at the time of his murder.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife, two daughters, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MD-D116BEA8
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Lieutenant Robertson gave the Montgomery County Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Gaithersburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Lieutenant Robertson.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Montgomery County Police Department

Location Gaithersburg, MD

Platform Identity mcpd.montgomery.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 9, 1972

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Age 35

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Committed suicide

Detective Lieutenant Donald A. Robertson is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Montgomery County Police Department, 8 of 21 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 38.1% of this agency's fallen.

Montgomery County Police Department

of 21 officers

38.1% Felonious

MD — Statewide

195

of 377 officers

51.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious